Any free/cheap, or even recommended moorings on the Markenmeer/Ijsselmeer?

[Reptile Smile]

Hi all,

This summer, the family and I (mum, dad, 2 eight year old twins) are doing our first charter and taking a boat from Lelystad for a week. We're going to bungle around the Markenmeer/Ijsselmeer, and visit a few towns and villages - not trying to cover large distances (obviously!), but just having a gentle mosey.

I'm psyching myself for getting very grumpy about spending tons on marina fees, and it would be great to know if anyone can recommend any cheaper or ideally free moorings to soften the wallet punch when it arrives. Also, any particular "must see" places? As it stands, we're intending Marker Wadden/Hoorn/Enkhuizen/Medemblik/Urk/Amsterdam, but could be persuaded of other options.

Cheers in advance

 

[ylop]

we did that - its an excellent experience which I am surprised is not more popular with Brits.

moorings are a mixture of "box" piles in marinas and harbour walls. the box is not that tricky but on someone else's boat, possibly a bit rusty and with a cross wind can be mind focussing! bystanders may should helpful advice - but potentially not in English! everyone speaks good english but they will tend go talk to you in the language of the ensign!

marina fees were no worse than the UK. in the grand scheme of a week long charter that will not be significant.

Make sure you know about the weed app - no not where to get Amsterdam’s finest - but Waterplanten.nu because they have big issues with weed growth that will cause you issues if you stray into it.

We just decided where to go every day based on the weather for that day plus the next. We didn’t go as far south as Amsterdam - there didn’t seem much point as we could visit there without a boat and it would have been mostly motoring in the conditions (weather and weed).

I think we visited Stavoren which isn’t on your list. My preference is for the traditional harbours rather than marinas, they were more interesting. You may need to raft. If you arrive a lunchtime nobody will answer you - but they have parking meter style payment systems.

If you are required to bring the boat back “full” of diesel then beware - Lelystad doesn’t have any IIRC.

 

[Fossil]

While it is a few years now since I lived in Brussels, kept a boat in Wemeldinge and sailed the Marken and Ijssel areas regularly every year, I am sure that it hasn't changed that much. As noted above, it's a popular area for local sailors and marina fees aren't all that steep, so don't worry if you have to go in. But, you don't have to! If the weather is good, any sheltered area will probably have a few boats anchored off and provided you display the proper lights and shapes, you'd be welcome to join them. And many of the lakes up towards places like Sneek, accessed through Stavoren have anchorages and quays out on the small islands that can be used by visitors for free. These do get quite crowded in summertime, but people are generally OK about rafting up. You'll probably want to go a bit further than the Markermeer, it's quite small. Another option is to use the canal system and go into places like Edam - you may need to negotiate a few locks to get there, but it's a great place to visit. And - when the new locks into the Ijselmeer had been built, we overnighted several times by anchoring in the old lock basin on the south side of the Enkhuisen dyke. Again, talk to and follow the locals, Dutch people are famously economical and will avoid places that are costly, and love places that are free! They will definitely understand your desire for free-or-cheap stays, but are very law-abiding and will not be anchored in places they shouldn't. Your hire company should also be a good source of advice. Enjoy!

 

[DJE]

Not quite Amsterdam but Muiden is worth a visit. It's about 6 miles SE of the Orangesluizen. Moor in the marina on the East side and it's a short walk to the castle which the kids should enjoy. There are a few bars and restaurants in the town including a very good Indonesian place.

 

[MK101]

100% agree on checking the waterplant app. Very useful. It’s usually at it’s worst up in the corner of the Markermeer near Hoorn. The channels are clear, and plenty of people happily sail through the weedy bits but it’s not unusual to see piles of weed on a pontoon! No weed problems in the IJsselmeer.

Your choice of must sees is good. We keep our boat in Hoorn and it’s a very nice place. You’ll probably want the old town harbour in the binnenhaven - more atmosphere - but we’re in the Grashaven.

Urk is really interesting. Enkhuizen too. Go to the Zuiderzee museum if you can. Well worth it. If you anchor in the Compagnieshaven you are still expected to pay. If you go into the old harbour you will be rafting. And +1 for Stavoren’s old harbour. Or go through the lock and turn left to tie up nicely sheltered and central. There’s a Scottish restaurant there - the haggis is excellent, and there’s an astonishing choice of whisky. Hindeloopen is also interesting. The old harbour gets jammed though. The marina there is pleasant enough.

If you’re looking for anchorages, there’s an area just south of Medemblik which is nice if the wind isn’t from the east. Likewise if the wind IS from the east and it’s gentle, you can anchor between Stavoren and Hindeloopen. There’s also the Gouwzee near Marken/Volendam, but watch your depth.

Finally, back in Flevoland south of Lelystad, there’s the blocq van kuffeler - which has space for anchoring but also has a small yacht harbour which is run by a club. Bikes to borrow to go round oostvarderplassen etc. Pleasant people. No shops!

Feel free to drop me a message if you want any more info at any stage.

 

[DJE]

100% agree on checking the waterplant app. Very useful. It’s usually at it’s worst up in the corner of the Markermeer near Hoorn. The channels are clear, and plenty of people happily sail through the weedy bits but it’s not unusual to see piles of weed on a pontoon! No weed problems in the IJsselmeer.

We sailed up the buoyed channel to Hoorn but still got a big lump of weed round our rudder. But the town was well worth it.

Finally, back in Flevoland south of Lelystad, there’s the blocq van kuffeler - which has space for anchoring but also has a small yacht harbour which is run by a club. Bikes to borrow to go round oostvarderplassen etc. Pleasant people. No shops!

I borrowed one of their bikes and it was a pleasant 15 minute ride to the supermarket. It feels weird riding downhill away from the marina though!

 

[ylop]

If you are looking to save money - keep in mind that a tender is often an extra cost on the charter, and two 8 yr olds on anchor without going ashore might be hard work!

 

[Fossil]

When we sailed up there many years back, we met a Dutch couple who told us about the Compagnies Harbour at Enkhuizen and it was free then. We stayed there on many subsequent occasions and always paid a visit to the Zuider Zee museum, which is really interesting and has many events worth going to. While not especially scenic, the harbour is at least a calm green haven of peace away from the roaring mass of boatie humanity that is the main marina. Holding is not very good - deep, sticky, unpleasant, yielding black mud - but is adequate unless the wind is really bad. Once things had changed and stays in the anchorage had to be paid, the charge is (or was) levied by a marina employee who came round in a RIB once a day. It was relatively cheap compared with the marina charge.

 

[Dockhead]

When we sailed up there many years back, we met a Dutch couple who told us about the Compagnies Harbour at Enkhuizen and it was free then. We stayed there on many subsequent occasions and always paid a visit to the Zuider Zee museum, which is really interesting and has many events worth going to. While not especially scenic, the harbour is at least a calm green haven of peace away from the roaring mass of boatie humanity that is the main marina. Holding is not very good - deep, sticky, unpleasant, yielding black mud - but is adequate unless the wind is really bad. Once things had changed and stays in the anchorage had to be paid, the charge is (or was) levied by a marina employee who came round in a RIB once a day. It was relatively cheap compared with the marina charge.

Just came from there. The charge for anchoring is only €10 and for that you get to use the marina facilities. A nice place, nice town, fantastic open air museum.

Harbour fees are quite reasonable all throughout this area. We never paid as much as €50 for a 54' boat. Was €48 or something in both Harlingen and Amsterdam. Much cheaper than the Solent.

 

[Leslie frank]

we did that - its an excellent experience which I am surprised is not more popular with Brits.

moorings are a mixture of "box" piles in marinas and harbour walls. the box is not that tricky but on someone else's boat, possibly a bit rusty and with a cross wind can be mind focussing! bystanders may should helpful advice - but potentially not in English! everyone speaks good english but they will tend go talk to you in the language of the ensign!

marina fees were no worse than the UK. in the grand scheme of a week long charter that will not be significant.

Make sure you know about the weed app - no not where to get Amsterdam’s finest - but Waterplanten.nu because they have big issues with weed growth that will cause you issues if you stray into it.

We just decided where to go every day based on the weather for that day plus the next. We didn’t go as far south as Amsterdam - there didn’t seem much point as we could visit there without a boat and it would have been mostly motoring in the conditions (weather and weed).

I think we visited Stavoren which isn’t on your list. My preference is for the traditional harbours rather than marinas, they were more interesting. You may need to raft. If you arrive a lunchtime nobody will answer you - but they have parking meter style payment systems.

If you are required to bring the boat back “full” of diesel then beware - Lelystad doesn’t have any IIRC.

Not sure if time will allow it but the islands of the Wadensee are fabulous. I think from memory Texel is the first. It is a great place to try. Other than that the two inland sees are lovely. I didn't think Dutch marinas were at all expensive but that was pre covid so it could all of changed

 

[MK101]

Average for us when we’re away from Hoorn (10m boat) is between €25 and €30 for a night in marina or harbour.

The islands are fantastic although they do take a bit of time to get to, which would reduce exploring time!

 

[johnalison]

I agree with the suggestions so far. I would guess that moorings are likely to cost roughly the same throughout the area, but we’re never extortionate anyway. ‘Inland’ harbours tend to be cheaper and mostly cater for the holiday motorboat trade, and a trip up one of the canal, such as from Lemmer, might find these, and there can be canal side moorings in some places, though this might take you away from the better sightseeing places.

I have a preference for smaller places myself. I don’t know if Edam has been mentioned but that is a charming town where you can buy excellent cheese from a nice little shop and visit the Captain’s House with its floating cellar. It is possible to go through up to the town, or stay in a friendly club marina a short distance away, or town moorings in the canal. (Beware of weed in the area)

We also liked Makkum and often went there. It is possible to lock into the town but this is a bit shallow. There are several other options of which our favourite was the large marina. This is comfortable and has recreation facilities such as a pool as well as shops and cafes. Unfortunately, one of the town’s attractions was the pottery factory that has largely closed and was not open for visits when we last went, but their pottery, which I think was much better than Delft can be found in the shops. Some is very expensive but we have a couple of tiles that didn’t cost much.